Apparatus for raising sunken vessels.



Patented Feb. 20, I900.

' J. GRANT.

APPARATUS FOR BAISING SUNKEN'VESSELS. v App1ication filed In. a, 11 339.. (No Model.)

auvwwtoz q/vuneoaeo G7 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH GRANT, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE EMPIRE WREOKAGE AND SALVAGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,766, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed March 8, 1899.

and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to apparatus for raising sunken vessels by means of separable pon toons placed inside and outside of the vessel.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in such pontoons and the parts attached thereto as to permit of their transportation without towing the same.

The invention consists principally in a pontoon which can be folded up or made separable, having a lining of canvas or otherlike materials.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and'then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in readiness for use. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the sections, showing the lining attached; and Fig. 4: is a detail view of a separable lining or bag.

The pontoon employed is constructed of rough lumber and put together in a manner that when not in use it may be folded up or taken apart, thus providing a convenience in the transportation of the same by railroad or stored on board a vessel. The lining of the pontoon is arranged so that it may be detached from the pontoon, so as to 'dry the same after it has been employed in raising a vessel.

The pontoon will preferably be constructed of two semicircular sections in cylinder form and hinged together with iron straps and rods, as shown.

A are straps or plates made of iron any desired thickness or width and having eyes G and G formed on either end to provide a hinge connected together with iron rods E,

Serial No. 708,293. (No model.)

running the full length through the eyes of the plate A, the ends to be secured when closed with a clasp and pin O and hinged in the same manner as the sections. The eyebolts F will be securely fastened to the plate A and used for passing chains or cables through to make the pontoons fast to the vessel.

D'is a screw-threaded inflation-valve of any Well-known construction inserted into the pontoon to receive a rubber hose, through which the air is forced into the interior by an air-pump. The lining may be made separable or a part of the pontoon.

The pontoons will be of great advantage to be used in combination with canvas bags, as these bags may be inserted inside of the pontoon, and thereby make them useful by attaching them to the outside of a vessel and keep the bags from chafing or being torn. The air-bags can also be used in combination with the pontoons inside a vessel. The pontoons can be put through the hatches in a folded form and put in place by a diver. Then the diver inserts a canvas bag, attaches the same to the screw-threaded shank or gaspipe D, to which will be attached a rubber hose to inflate the bag, which will render the pontoon water-tight, and, forming an airspace in the vessels hold and expelling the water, will cause the vessel to float. When avessel is sunken with its cargo, canvas bags cannot be placed inside unless the cargo is removed and cannot be used outside without a solid outside protection such as the pontoon herein described will afford. It also furnishes solid fastenings and keeps the bag from being torn or otherwise destroyed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In a sectional pontoon, the combination with two semicircular sections, of a series of straps secured thereon, each strap having a perforated lug or projection at its respective end, a longitudinally-extending rod engaging said perforations and locking the sections together one of said sections carryingaremovable circular disk hinged thereto and adapted to engage the other section, whereby an airtight compartment is formed substantially as described.

2. In a sectional pontoon, the combination with two semicylindrical sections reinovably secured together, of a lining of air-tight fabric secured in one of said sections andadapted to be folded against the inner wall thereof, said lining carrying an inflatimrvaive, and a reinovably-hinged disk secured to one of the sections for closing the ends of the pontoon, substantially as described.

JOSEPH GRANT.

\Vitnesses:

A. J SMITH, GEORGE M. BRYsoN. 

